Grandparent's Worst Nightmare

By Joan Metzger

This morning I woke up in a cold sweat. My heart pounded, and I gasped for breath. Like Pac-Man, I was being chased, not by a ghost, but by a computer geek.

"Your 'grandmother-board' is obsolete," he jeered. "It needs to be replaced."

"No! No!" I yelled. "I'll get upgrades, more memory, a smaller chip. I'll go digital. Whatever it takes! Just don't put me in the closet with the floppies, eight-tracks, and that old black-and-white TV."

I worry about becoming obsolete. No grandparent wants to be replaced by GameBoys, MP3s, and PlayStations. Sometimes I get the feeling my grandson would rather spend time in his "turn-it-on and turn-it-up" world than to spend time with me.

During my morning meditation, a Godly power-surge zapped me with Psalm 127:3 (NAB): "Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward'".
Hmmm. Maybe God is using my nightmare to give me a reality check. He could be saying, "Stop worrying about being replaced by gadgets. Enjoy the gift I've given to you."

I decided it was time to stop the useless fretting. After all, God gave me qualities that today's techno-gizmos will never have. For instance, I'm durable. I can't think of any sixty-year-old technology that is still fully operational, with its original chassis, parts, and wiring. Oh, it may take a while to recharge the batteries after heavy use but at least, they don't have to be replaced. Also, I'm not expected to operate at breakneck speed. My grandson's just glad I'm charged up and ready to go.

Technology is here to stay, however, we need not be intimidated by it. Sadly, our grandkid's world is full of nanoseconds, megahertz, and gigahertz. But, is that what they want from us? God has given grandparents the ability to offer their grandkids the things the techno-gizmo world cannot—a haven where they can slow down and chill out. We can provide them an environment where they need not be faster, smarter, bigger, better. Rather, they can be just what God wants them to be—kids.
To ensure system compatibility, grandparents need to plug in, turn on, and crank up the woofers. It's time to get back to basics.

Begin by showing grandkids that they are loved, cherished, and important. Let them know that God, and you, accept them just the way they are. Show them respect, and insist on respect as well.

Encourage kids to talk about anything and everything—God, church, school, friends, values—their concerns. When they speak make eye contact. Be truly interested. Don't offer advice unless it's asked for. And, skip the when-I-was-a-kid speech. You know the one, " . . . walked three miles to school . . . no shoes . . . six inches of snow." Remember, it's better to listen than to speak.

Get with the program by making your home a "no gadget zone." When the grandkids come over, their gadgets get parked at the door. Anything that uses batteries, monitors, joysticks, or the Internet is off limits.

Slow down—no megahertz speed permitted. Create an environment where kids can escape their hurry-up world and get re-energized. Give them one-on-one, quality time. Read "kid friendly" Bible stories. Play board and card games that are fun, challenging, and educational.

Turn on the kid's creativity by cooking, baking, and making crafts. Bookstores and public libraries have cookbooks and craft books geared specially for kids. Bible-related craft books are also available.

Exercise together by going for walks or riding bikes. Play catch, throw Frisbees, and have water balloon fights. Join your community recreation center or YMCA. Walk to your nearest school grounds. Shoot basketballs, play tennis, and enjoy the playground equipment.Read to your grandkids. Books give kids and grandparents many things to talk about. Most libraries have children's books on CDs, and audiotapes. Videos and DVDs are also available at many locations. If you can't find your favorite Christian material, request them.

Share your history and that of your ancestors. Talk to grandkids about life before microwaves, remotes, and GameBoys—when an Apple was just an apple.
Wouldn't it be nice if grandparents could be the "techno gizmos" of the future? In this day of upload, download, and overload, if grandparents play their games right, they'll never be replaced by technology.

Remember, I-pod, plus YOU-pod equals WE-pods.

Ah-h-h-h! Isn't technology wonderful!

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